Oldham feeling weight of expectation after Liverpool victory

15 February 2013 07:47

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Oldham caretaker manager Tony Philliskirk knows there is more expectation on his side to beat Everton in the FA Cup fifth round following their heroics against Liverpool.

The npower League One strugglers stunned Brendan Rodgers' Reds in the previous round, when they beat them 3-2 at Boundary Park. Oldham - who have not made it to the quarter-finals of the competition in almost a decade - have been told to remain positive by Philliskirk, who took the reins at the club when Paul Dickov stepped down shortly after the Liverpool win.

"We are under no illusions that we have to be at our maximum," Philliskirk told the Manchester Evening News. "The goalkeeper and back four have to have stormers. We will need some luck and Everton have to be a bit below par."

He added: "That is not being negative - there is always the magic of the FA Cup and this season there have been more surprises than in years gone by. We have to go in with a positive mindset. We are massive underdogs and have everything to gain.

"There is a little bit more expectation on us this time. Nobody gave us a chance against Liverpool which worked in our favour but the element of surprise has gone a little. It's a challenge the players should relish."

MK Dons will play npower Championship side Barnsley and Luke Chadwick is hoping to inspire the League One club to another memorable FA Cup victory.

The 32-year-old former Manchester United midfielder made his first start in several weeks against Doncaster on Tuesday after a knee problem had ruled him out since mid-December.

He told MK Dons Player: "The Barnsley game is going to be massive for the club and we owe it to the chairman, the manager and the supporters to put on a good performance.

"It will be an amazing achievement if we can get through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. We'll treat it like any other game, we'll prepare as we always do and we'll go out there and give the same sort of fight that we showed against Doncaster.

"Hopefully, then, with a bit more quality on a better pitch which we'll have at our place, we can win. If we do that and get a good draw in the next round then who knows what might happen."